Dear Friend, I am writing to you because I'm concerned about what I consider to be a serious injustice being committed by URPE, the Union for Radical Political Economics, which publishes the Review of Radical Political Economics (RRPE). I believe fundamental issues of principle are involved: pluralism, freedom of speech, the intellectual integrity of the left, and the quality of its theoretical output. You may recently have received, or learned about, URPE's solicitations for funds to fight a lawsuit brought by Andrew Kliman. I am convinced that these solicitations misrepresent what the case is about -- defamation of Andrew by an employee of URPE. Within constraints that arise in any legal action, I would like to inform you of the real nature of the case and other facts which impressed themselves on me, which I think you should be aware of. URPE brought the lawsuit, and its expenses, on itself. Andrew repeatedly tried to settle the case, both before and after he was compelled to bring the suit. The sole reason this dispute goes on is that URPE refuses to accept his settlement offers. The best advice URPE's friends can urge on it is to respond seriously to Andrew's attempt to settle. The case began when the managing editor of the RRPE, Hazel Dayton Gunn, falsely accused Andrew of unethical professional conduct. She and the RRPE ed board used this accusation as a reason for a ban against ever publishing anything by him in that journal. After learning about the accusation and ban in May, 2000, Andrew denied the accusation and asked the managing editor to retract it. She responded, instead, by publicizing the false accusation further. For legal reasons, Andrew cannot divulge the substance of the accusation. I can report that the RRPE editorial board characterized it as "a serious violation of professional ethics." Indeed, the accusation is so serious that its dissemination threatened Andrew's professional reputation and gravely jeopardized his ability to earn a living in academia. It is because -- and only because -- URPE and its agents refused to retract this accusation and lift the ban imposed against him that Andrew was compelled to seek relief in court. Although they refuse to retract the accusation, it is -- I repeat -- false. Hazel Dayton Gunn admitted in papers filed with the court that Andrew did not engage in the behaviour of which she accused him. This is in the public record. So the case is not, as URPE alleges, that a disgruntled author sued because the RRPE rejected a paper of his -- they say the case is about "a paper submitted to RRPE and rejected for publication." Andrew is not suing to get a paper published, nor to receive compensation for its rejection. Were that the case, his suit would undoubtedly have been thrown out. Nor is he interested in the money -- he has informed me he will donate to good causes all money in excess of expenses that he receives in compensation. Andrew repeatedly tried to settle the case. In October of last year, he offered to waive all claims for monetary compensation, asking only for a public retraction and a lifting of the publishing ban. URPE and its agents consistently rebuffed these offers of settlement. That is why URPE incurred, and continues to incur, its legal expenses, and that is why it may have to pay compensation. Prior to this case, Andrew and many others (myself included) criticized RRPE policy and called for a renewal of its one-time commitment to theoretical pluralism. The fact that URPE's leadership has responded by trumping up a damaging charge, and by banning him from ever publishing in its journal, shows that pluralism and freedom of expression are indeed the fundamental issues at stake in this case. There are more comradely and principled ways of conducting theoretical and political disputes than trying to stifle dissent and injure one’s critics. Please ensure both sides of this story are heard, and do not hesitate to contact me to discuss how you can help Andrew clear his name. Yours truly, Alan Freeman
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